Vacaville school board member resigns

VACAVILLE — The Vacaville School District added another moving part to its seven-member board with the official resignation Friday of Jerry Eaton, a board member elected in 2011 when the district had elections in odd years.

The district changed to even years in March 2013, effectively adding a year to everyone’s term, thus making Eaton’s term up in 2016 instead of 2015.

Eaton recently began a new position on the board of directors with the California Teachers Association that takes him away from the Vacaville area. He will be serving an area that stretches from San Francisco to Oregon.

“I couldn’t be an effective board member. I couldn’t go to events I need to be (going to),” he said. “If you’re not in the area, you can’t be effective.”

Superintendent Ken Jacopetti said Eaton “is going to be missed.”

“(He’s) such an advocate for the teacher’s voice,” Jacopetti said.

The district already had four seats up for election in November. Eaton’s departure adds a fifth opening, which will most likely be filled either by a direct appointment or by opening up an interview process similar to the process used after Larry Mazzuca resigned in August 2013, Jacopetti said.

Chris Flask replaced Mazzuca, who moved out of the area. Flask was chosen from a pool of 15 candidates and given a provisional term appointment until the next regular election, which is November.

Board member Theresa Nutt, who also moved out of the area, resigned in September 2013 and the board re-interviewed the remaining two of the top three candidates left from Mazzuca’s departure, choosing Shelley Dally to replace Nutt until the term was up this year.

Both Whit Whitman and David McCallum are nearing the end of their original terms.

Whitman, McCallum, Flask and Dally are all planning a run for the empty seats. Monday is the first day candidates are able to pull campaign papers.

“I think we have a good board and I endorse the other three,” Whitman said of his fellow board members.

Jacopetti said the current board is strong, despite the rapidly moving parts over the past year.

“Chris and Shelley came in to fill positions (and) they’ve done a phenomenal job,” he said. “There has been a lot of activity and our board has been very strong. I’m sure we’ll continue down that path.”

According to the California Education Code, the board also has the option to have a special election. The board will make a decision at Thursday’s meeting. Board sessions typically take place at the Educational Center, 401 Nut Tree Road. The Vacaville School District agenda will be posted at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at www.vacavilleusd.org.

Reach Susan Winlow at 427-6955 or [email protected] Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/swinlowdr.